Mozzarella Sticks (Printable)

Golden, crunchy coating surrounds melted mozzarella in this classic appetizer. Quick to prepare and impossible to resist.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheese

01 - 14 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into ½ x 3-inch sticks

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 tbsp milk
05 - 2 cups breadcrumbs (preferably panko for extra crunch)
06 - ½ tsp garlic powder
07 - ½ tsp dried Italian herbs
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ For Frying

10 - Vegetable oil, for deep frying

→ To Serve

11 - Marinara sauce, for dipping

# How To Make It:

01 - Place flour in one shallow bowl. In a second bowl, whisk eggs with milk. In a third bowl, mix breadcrumbs with garlic powder, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper.
02 - Dredge each mozzarella stick in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg mixture, then coat thoroughly in breadcrumbs. For best results, repeat the egg and breadcrumb steps to double-coat each stick.
03 - Place coated sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for at least 1 hour, or until firm. This prevents cheese from leaking during frying.
04 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F.
05 - Fry mozzarella sticks in batches for 1–2 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp. Do not overcrowd the pot.
06 - Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce for dipping.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between that golden crunch and molten cheese is pure magic
  • They come together faster than delivery arrives and taste infinitely better
  • Freezing ahead means you're always 10 minutes from party food
02 -
  • Skip freezing and you will end up with cheese leaking into your oil and a mess that never properly crisps
  • Double coating is what separates homemade mozzarella sticks from disappointing ones
  • Crowding the pan drops oil temperature, leading to greasy sticks instead of crispy ones
03 -
  • Cut mozzarella sticks while the cheese is cold from the refrigerator for cleaner edges
  • Use one hand for wet coating and one for dry to keep your fingers from becoming breaded
  • Never salt mozzarella sticks after frying—do it in the breading mixture
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